Race and Ethnicity

News about Race and Ethnicity, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Mar. 30, 2015

Side Street; Vernicia Colon and Pedro Medina, proprietors of the Mix Coffeehaus pop-up shop in the South Bronx, used their business to prompt conversations about race with customers long before Starbucks announced similar campaign. MORE

Mar. 23, 2015

Rachel L Swarns The Working Life column examines discussion of race in the workplace; notes fraught issue gained national attention after Starbucks began encouraging its baristas to discuss subject with customers; points out case of Carl Jones, lone black employee at Manhattan financial services company, who had success engaging with his colleagues despite initial awkwardness. MORE

Mar. 23, 2015

Starbucks says baristas will no longer be encouraged to write phrase 'Race Together' on customers' coffee cups, ending criticized part of company's plan to promote discussion on racial issues; notes its conversation on race will continue. MORE

Mar. 19, 2015

Effort on part of Starbucks to stimulate conversations about race relations in America has drawn widespread criticism and derision; company chief executive Howard D Schultz defends 'Race Together' initiative at shareholders meeting, saying that company should take leadership role on important social issues like race relations. MORE

Mar. 4, 2015

Private nonprofit yet to be selected will conduct survey aimed at reviewing racial, ethnic and gender make up of New York City's cultural organizations. MORE

Feb. 24, 2015

Op-Ed article by law Prof Ian Ayres highlights research from Australian economists Redzo Mujcic and Paul Frijters finding white people receive special privileges, particularly when no one else is around; notes that research is first to focus on discretionary accommodations, and underscores importance of understanding that discrimination can manifest itself in form of benefits to particular favored groups. MORE

Feb. 22, 2015

White students and faculty at some of New York City's elite private schools are being asked to reflect on their race and to examine concept of white privilege and how their presence in school community affects those of other races; such sessions reflect change in private school diversity initiatives, which used to solely focus on minorities. MORE

Feb. 22, 2015

Nicholas Kristof Op-Ed column highlights findings of studies that are part of growing body of evidence that white males, specifically, benefit from range of unconscious societal influences; urges white men to keep in mind that they are often beneficiaries of systemic unfairness. MORE

Feb. 13, 2015

Michael Kimmelman Critic's Notebook assesses plan to join Paris with its inner suburbs, shift that will more than triple city's official population to nearly seven million people; observes change could extend a greater sense of belonging to millions of immigrant families who live in poverty in city's outskirts, challenging the metropolis, and also France, to reckon with its legacy of racism. MORE

Feb. 12, 2015

Federal Bureau of Investigation Dir James B Comey will give speech at Georgetown University addressing relations between police officers and African-Americans; will be first time an FBI director has publicly discussed race issue at length. MORE

Feb. 8, 2015

Interview with Lani Guinier, first tenured woman of color at Harvard Law School who is polarizing political figure in her fight for more equal representation on campuses; Guinier discusses dangers of over-reliance on test scores for college admissions and benefits of diverse student population. MORE

Jan. 25, 2015

The Upshot; Tyler Cowen Economic View column examines research on the relationship between economics and social tolerance, noting limitations of widely-held view that open economies lead to open minds about race and sexual orientation; observes that economic forces can only account for so much, and that a society's qualitative aspects are also strongly at work. MORE

Jan. 25, 2015

Gray Matter column by Prof Nour Kteily and doctoral student Sarah Cotterill describes their research, published in journal Personality and Social Psychology, on how potential jurors might form opinions of Boston Marathon bombing suspects Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev based on whether they are perceived as white. MORE

Jan. 6, 2015

Interview with Prof Jennifer L Eberhardt, associate professor of psychology at Stanford University, who has won 2014 MacArthur 'genius' grant for her research into effect of unconscious ideas about race on workings of the criminal justice system. MORE

Jan. 4, 2015

The Upshot; Sendhil Mullainathan Economic View column examines extensive research into unconscious discrimination, in light of deaths of unarmed African-Americans across nation; holds that such discrimination is the most common in contemporary America, and perhaps represents a more insidious threat than outright bigotry. MORE

Jan. 1, 2015

Rep Steve Scalise's attempts to explain away speech he gave at event held by David Duke's European Unity and Rights Organization is a reminder of time when Republicans in Louisiana had to deal with Duke's white supremacist views in 1990s; episode is also sign of how many Southern politicians have coopted much of Duke's strategy of appealing to frustrations and resentments of white voters. MORE

Dec. 28, 2014

Nicholas Kristof Op-Ed column presents poems about race written by readers in response to his Whites Just Don't Get It series of columns. MORE

Dec. 25, 2014

DNA-testing company 23andMe publishes biggest genetic profile of United States ever, based on study of 160,000 people; researchers trace complex variations of genetic makeup from state to state, creating sort of ancestry map; program calculates what percentage of each subject's genomes was inherited from European, African or Native American forebears. MORE

Dec. 13, 2014

Poll conducted by New York Times and Sienna College shows that more than half of New Yorkers, black and white alike, are concerned about race relations, and uneasy about where city is headed; findings suggest efforts of Mayor Bill de Blasio to improve interactions between New Yorkers and city's police department have been buffeted, and at times overtaken, by events outside his control. MORE

Dec. 13, 2014

Samuel G Freedman On Religion column notes substantial number of white people have joined First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem, trend that defies racial norms of American Christianity. MORE

Dec. 11, 2014

Data from Education Dept's Office for Civil Rights data shows that from 2011 to 2012, black girls in public elementary and secondary schools were suspended at rate of 12 percent, compared with rate of 2 percent for white girls, and more than girls of any other race or ethnicity. MORE

Dec. 11, 2014

Nicholas Kristof Op-Ed column imagines conversation between white dad and his teenage son about respecting black police and authority if whites were the minority. MORE

Dec. 5, 2014

The Upshot; expected defeat of Democratic Sen Mary Landrieu of Louisiana in upcoming runoff election would complete demise of once solid Democratic Deep South; end of era marks generational shift along racial and cultural lines. MORE

Dec. 5, 2014

Hashtag crimingwhilewhite gains quick momentum on Twitter as users express solidarity with those angered by grand jury decision not to charge officer in chokehold death of Eric Garner; thousands of posts relate experiences in which officers ignored obvious crimes, presumably because offenders were white. MORE

Dec. 4, 2014

Nobel laureate James D Watson, a pioneer in DNA science, will auction his prize medal and donate much of proceeds to educational institutions; move is part of Watson's effort to redeem himself after making offensive remarks about race in 2007 that tarnished his reputation. MORE

Dec. 3, 2014

Swedish broadcaster SVT's decision to edit two scenes it considers racially offensive from 1969 television series based on Pippi Longstocking books by Astrid Lindgren has ignited national debate; move taps into growing and often uncomfortable discussion over ethnicity in country where small minority is just beginning to have a voice. MORE

Dec. 3, 2014

Brooklyn Historical Society project Crossing Borders, Bridging Generations offers more than 100 oral histories of current or former Brooklynites who identify themselves as being of mixed heritage, whether through race, ethnicity, religion or nationality; project is scheduled for completion in January. MORE

Dec. 2, 2014

David Brooks Op-Ed column contends national debate over events in Ferguson, Mo, highlights how the nature of racism in America has changed, migrating away from a focus on genetics toward a new prejudice based on class; maintains this classism has mixed with traditional racism to produce a particularly noxious brew; suggests best way forward is to embrace programs that foster social mobility. MORE

Nov. 30, 2014

Nicholas Kristof Op-Ed column calls for creating Truth and Reconciliation Commission to examine race in America, modeled on one in South Africa, in wake of shooting death of Michael Brown; suggests that part of country's racial divide comes from well-meaning Americans who disapprove of racism yet inadvertently help perpetuate it; contends new commission could jump-start overdue national conversation and recommend solutions. MORE

Nov. 30, 2014

Ross Douthat Op-Ed column contends events in Ferguson, Mo, make case for pessimism about race and politics in America; holds that political system divided primarily by identity is likely to be more poisonous than one in which both parties are offering more-color-blind appeals; laments that identity is the most primal, reliable form of political division, and Ferguson has proved case study in how powerfully it works. MORE

Nov. 30, 2014

Philip Galanes Table for Three column interview with recording artist Elton John and community activist and Ford Foundation president Darren Walker; duo discuss race, sexual identity and leaving the past behind. MORE

Nov. 14, 2014

Editorial examines case before Supreme Court that could have significant implications for future of Voting Rights Act; notes main legal question in case is whether Alabama lawmakers paid too much attention to race when they redrew state's district lines; calls on justices to reaffirm 1965 law and stop lawmakers from turning sophisticated piece of legislation into a cartoon. MORE

Nov. 13, 2014

Supreme Court hears Alabama redistricting case in which black and Democratic lawmakers say state Legislature relied too heavily on rigid racial quotas in its 2012 redistricting by maintaining high concentrations of black voters in some districts; Supreme Court has previously ruled that racial gerrymandering is constitutionally suspect, but state officials argue they were complying with Voting Rights Act. MORE

Oct. 14, 2014

Exhibit Haunted Files: The Eugenics Record Office, at New York University's Asian/Pacific/American Institute, recreates Eugenics Record Office, early 20th century institution where scientists applied rudimentary genetics to singling out supposedly superior races and degrading minorities. MORE

Oct. 9, 2014

Atty Gen Eric H Holder Jr calls for wide-ranging reviews of police tactics and training; comments come during Little Rock, Ark, conference, attended by dozens of mayors and police chiefs, to discuss race relations and policing in United States in the wake of protests in Ferguson, Mo. MORE

Sep. 9, 2014

Atlanta Hawks owner Bruce Levenson announces plans to sell his controlling interest in the basketball team as a result of a racially charged email he wrote in 2012; memo prompted an NBA investigation that would probably have resulted in Levenson being disciplined by the league. MORE

Sep. 7, 2014

Nicholas Kristof Op-Ed column addresses reader comments selected from deluge of criticism he received following column on white privilege and smugness. MORE

Aug. 31, 2014

Nicholas Kristof Op-Ed column offers several reason why race relations deserve more attention and more press coverage; notes that polls and studies show that white Americans believe issue of race gets more attention than it deserves, in aftermath of shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo; argues that white Americans should wipe away any self-satisfaction about racial progress and focus more on challenges of race in America. MORE

Aug. 28, 2014

Nicholas Kristoff Op-Ed column holds national conversation about race, prompted by death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo, should include an examination of unconsciously biased attitudes, held by both blacks and whites; notes discrimination, especially against young black men, flows more often from these unexamined attitudes than from overt hatred and racism; offers bevy of data pointing to problem. MORE

Aug. 27, 2014

Group of alumni from eight prestigious New York City public high schools issues statement in support of keeping test as sole criterion for entry, inserting themselves in long-running debate over admissions process and its impact on schools’ racial makeup; legislators and civil rights groups have blamed test-only policy for fact that very few black and Hispanic students are admitted to eight so-called specialized high schools, in comparison with their numbers in city’s school system over all. MORE

Aug. 18, 2014

Op-Ed article by Prof Jeff Smith, former Missouri state senator, comments on racial friction in Ferguson, Mo; notes that exodus of blacks from St Louis into formerly white suburbs has resulted in primarily white police forces in place in largely black areas, exacerbating tensions; suggests that consolidation with surrounding municipalities of St Louis County may help to empower black populations and eventually reduce racial strife. MORE

Aug. 12, 2014

Jess Row novel, Your Face in Mine, explores long tradition of racial disguise, imagining real postracial nation; story is set in future in which protaganist Martin Lipkin is first person to undergo 'racial reassignment surgery' to correct his 'racial dysphoria.' MORE

Aug. 6, 2014

Theodore P Wafer, on trial for fatally shooting Renisha Marie McBride on doorstep of his home in Dearborn Heights, Mich, testifies that he acted instinctively, without planning; says he panicked after he was woken by loud noises. MORE

Aug. 5, 2014

Theodore P Wafer testifies in his own defense in 2013 shooting of 19-year-old Renisha McBride on porch of his home in Dearborn Heights, Mich; says he believed McBride was an intruder, and shooting was an accident; faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted. MORE

Aug. 2, 2014

Lacey Schwartz documentary Little White Lie explores how Schwartz learned that her father was black after being raised by her Jewish family to believe that she is white; film joins body of work by other filmmakers who have focused on hidden truths in their family trees. MORE

Jul. 24, 2014

Trial begins for Theodore P Wafer of Dearborn Heights, Mich, suburban homeowner accused of second-degree murder in 2013 shooting death of teenager Renisha McBridge on porch of his home; shooting ignited racial tensions because defendant is white and victim was black, but prosecutors do not make race an issue. MORE

Jul. 23, 2014

Miami Journal; soul-food landmark Jumbo's in Miami's Liberty City neighborhood will close its doors after nearly 60 years of business; closing will end six-decade run that epitomized the city's struggle against blight and served as time capsule of nation's changing race relations. MORE

Jul. 22, 2014

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, on vacation in Italy with his family, describes 'mirror-image feeling' after meeting interracial family of Cecile Kyenge, Italy's first black national official. MORE

Jul. 14, 2014

Editorial contends key finding of Vera Institute of Justice report on prosecutorial practices of the Manhattan district attorney's office is of pattern of racial disparities at multiple stages of the criminal justice process; praises Dist Atty Cyrus Vance Jr for inviting such a comprehensive analysis of his own office; notes major problem is prosecutors' emphasis on prior arrests when making plea bargains, rather than focusing on previous prison sentences. MORE

Jul. 13, 2014

Seth Stephens-Davidowitz Op-Ed article describes his analysis of tens of thousands of profiles on Stormfront.org, America's most popular online hate site; reflects that analysis gives very little insight into why people hate other racial groups. MORE

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